www.pmi.org/.../pp_pmbok2000welco
me.asp
PMBOK
The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a collection of
processes and knowledge areas generally accepted as best practice
within the project management discipline.
As an internationally recognised standard (IEEE Std 1490-1998) it
provides the fundamentals of project management, irrespective of the
type of project be it construction, software, engineering, automotive
etc.
PMBOK recognises 5 basic process groups and 9 knowledge areas typical
of almost all projects. The basic concepts are applicable to
projects, programs and operations. The five basic process groups are:
Initiating
Planning
Executing
Controlling
Closing
Processes overlap and interact throughout a project or phase.
Processes are described in terms of:
Inputs (documents, plans, designs, etc.)
Tools and Techniques (mechanisms applied to inputs)
Outputs (documents, products, etc.)
The nine knowledge areas are:
Project Integration Management
Project Scope Management
Project Time Management
Project Cost Management
Project Quality Management
Project Human Resource Management
Project Communications Management
Project Risk Management
Project Procurement Management
Each knowledge area contains some or all of the project management
processes. For example, Project Procurement Management includes:
Procurement Planning
Solicitation Planning
Solicitation
Source Selection
Contract Administration
Contract Closeout
Much of PMBOK is unique to project management e.g. critical path and
work breakdown structure (WBS). Some areas overlap with other
management disciplines. General management also includes planning,
organising, staffing, executing and controlling the operations of an
organisation. Financial forecasting, organisational behaviour and
planning techniques are also similar.